2023–24 Hershey Bears season

The 2023–24 Hershey Bears season was the franchise's 86th season in the American Hockey League (AHL), starting on October 14, 2023, and ending during the Calder Cup playoffs. They play their home games at Giant Center.

2023–24 Hershey Bears
Calder Cup champions
Eastern Conference champions
Atlantic Division champions
League1st AHL
Division1st Atlantic
Conference1st Eastern
2023–24 record53–14–0–5 (111 pts)
Home record29–7–0-0
Road record24–7–0-5
Goals for229
Goals against151
Team information
General managerBryan Helmer (de facto - VP of Hockey Operations)
CoachTodd Nelson
Assistant coachPatrick Wellar
Nick Bootland
CaptainDylan McIlrath
Alternate captainsAaron Ness
Mike Vecchione
ArenaGiant Center
Average attendance9,439
Team leaders
GoalsEthen Frank (29)
AssistsJoe Snively (45)
PointsJoe Snively (59)
Penalty minutesDylan McIlrath (100)
WinsHunter Shepard (27)
Goals against averageHunter Shepard (2.26)

On April 2, 2024, the Bears clinched a playoff berth for the third consecutive season following a 1–0 win over the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.[1] In that same game, they clinched their division.

The Bears finished the season as Atlantic Division champions, their second in franchise history, and Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy winners for the fourth time in franchise history, with a record-setting 111 points from 53 wins, 15 losses, and 5 shootout losses, their 53 wins also serving as a new AHL record under a 72 game season.[2]

The Bears would win the Calder Cup in back to back years, beating the Coachella Valley Firebirds in 6 games.[3]

Standings

 y–  indicates team has clinched division and a playoff spot
 x–  indicates team has clinched a playoff spot
 e–  indicates team has been eliminated from playoff contention

Division

Eastern Confrence GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Hershey Bears (WSH)72531405111.771229151
x–Providence Bruins (BOS)7242216393.646239208
x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)7239248187.604211194
x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA)7239267085.590217203
x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)7234287378.542204219
x–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)7232316373.507191217
e–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)7230373265.451226244
e–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI)7225387259.410162222

Conference

Atlantic Division GP W L OTL SOL Pts Pts% GF GA
y–Hershey Bears (WSH)72531405111.771229151
x–Providence Bruins (BOS)7242216393.646239208
y–Cleveland Monsters (CBJ)7240245388.611233238
x–Rochester Americans (BUF)7239237388.611234239
x–Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (PIT)7239248187.604211194
x–Syracuse Crunch (TBL)7239244587.604220203
x–Charlotte Checkers (FLA)7239267085.590217203
x–Belleville Senators (OTT)7238283382.569209211
x–Toronto Marlies (TOR)72342610280.556249220
x–Hartford Wolf Pack (NYR)7234287378.542204219
e–Utica Comets (NJD)7232295675.521221226
x–Lehigh Valley Phantoms (PHI)7232316373.507191217
e–Laval Rocket (MTL)7233316274.514235242
e–Springfield Thunderbirds (STL)7230373265.451226244
e–Bridgeport Islanders (NYI)7225387259.410162222

Playoffs

Game log

2024 Game Log – Playoffs
Eastern Conference First Round vs. (A6) Lehigh Valley Phantoms: Bears won 3–1
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTStarting GoalieAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 1Lehigh Valley1–6HersheyShepard8,0381–0Recap
2May 4Lehigh Valley2–4HersheyShepard10,5202–0Recap
3May 8Hershey0–2Lehigh ValleyShepard6,2402–1Recap
4May 11Hershey5–3Lehigh ValleyShepard7,0893–1Recap
Eastern Conference Second Round vs. (A5) Hartford Wolf Pack: Bears won 3–0
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTStarting GoalieAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 16Hartford1–6HersheyShepard8,3841–0Recap
2May 18Hartford2–4HersheyShepard10,7142–0Recap
3May 22Hershey4–1HartfordShepard3,9543–0Recap
Eastern Conference Finals vs. (N1) Cleveland Monsters: Bears won 4–3
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTStarting GoalieAttendanceSeriesRecap
1May 30Cleveland4–5HersheyOTShepard9,2290–1Recap
2June 1Cleveland2–3HersheyOTShepard10,5620–2Recap
3June 4Hershey6–2ClevelandShepard14,6750–3Recap
4June 6Hershey2–3ClevelandShepard12,8143–1Recap
5June 8Hershey1–5ClevelandShepard13,1593–2Recap
6June 10Cleveland3–2HersheyOTShepard9,5113–3Recap
7June 12Cleveland2–3HersheyOTShepard10,5204–3Recap
Calder Cup Finals vs. (P1) Coachella Valley Firebirds: Hershey won series 4–2
#DateVisitorScoreHomeOTStarting GoalieAttendanceSeriesRecap
1June 14Coachella Valley4–3HersheyShepard10,1540–1Recap
2June 16Coachella Valley2–5HersheyShepard10,5071–1Recap
3June 18Hershey2-6Coachella ValleyShepard9.0341-2Recap
4June 20Hershey3-2Coachella ValleyShepard10,0872-2Recap
5June 22Hershey3-2Coachella ValleyShepard10,0873-2Recap
6June 24Coachella Valley4-5HersheyOTShepard11,0134-2Recap
Legend:        = Win        = Loss     

References

  1. "Bears Clinch Atlantic Division in 1–0 Win Over Phantoms". Hershey Bears. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  2. "Bears fall short of record, turn attention to Cup repeat". April 21, 2024.
  3. "New faces spark Bears to latest Calder Cup championship". American Hockey League. June 25, 2024. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
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